Abstract:

Space systems have become critical enablers for a wide array of applications, including crisis and emergency situation management. The present paper focuses on their growing role in managing the disruption of the functioning of critical infrastructure systems, to the extent to which some space assets can be termed critical components of the wider system-of-systems. Various factors contribute to this trend, such as increased capabilities, easier and more advantageous access to space services and innovation with regards to the toolkit for crisis management. At the same time, the usefulness of space systems is felt not just during the actual materialization of a risk or threat, but also in the pre and post-crisis phases. Therefore, space capabilities can be integrated into a holistic resilience governance system. The authors propose a generic model for understanding the various contributions to crisis and emergency situation management made possible by the current state of the art in space capabilities.